Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Mardella trainer Michael Young produced five-year-old October Reign in fine fettle for his first-up assignment in the 2130m Sky Racing Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when the Victorian-bred gelding overcame the disadvantage of the wide barrier at No. 8 to unwind a powerful late burst and snatch victory.
October Reign’s victory at a handsome tote price of $13.90 over Lucky Galleon ($7) and You Fly With Me ($4.20) gave champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr his fourth winner on the ten-event program, following successes with August Moon, Your So Fine and Whats Up Sunshine.
October Reign, having his first start for 18 weeks, was restrained after being three wide early, and he raced in ninth position, five back on the pegs, in the field of ten before Hall eased him into the clear approaching the home turn. He moved up to fifth at the 100m mark and then charged home to get to the front in the final couple of strides.
“I thought his trial run was good (when he led and finished a half-head second to Lucca at Pinjarra on Wednesday of the previous week, with final quarters of 28.9sec. and 28sec.),” said Hall. “And tonight, he was good and worked his way through nicely.”
Young said that he expected more wins from the Victorian-bred gelding. “He works like a decent horse at home, but he hasn’t been bringing that form to the races,” he explained. “But he did tonight.”
You Fly With Me set the pace before Lucky Galleon got to a narrow lead in the home straight. But both pacers were swamped by the fast-finishing October Reign, who now has had 44 starts for seven wins, 12 placings and stakes of $68,434.
He is by American stallion Sportswriter and is the second foal out of Show Me Amber, who earned $64,151 from 11 wins and 16 placings from 62 starts. October Reign’s half-brother I Am Marquez has had 100 starts for 13 wins, 23 placings and $93,810 in prizemoney.